A DATE has been set for the unveiling of a statue of a legendary Gwent boxer.

The David ‘Bomber’ Pearce statue will be unveiled on June 9 at 5pm at the Newport Riverfront.

The sculpture was created by Laury Dizengremel, a world famous sculptor who was previously commissioned to create works of Capability Brown, Winston Churchill and Roger Federer.

Former IBF World Featherweight Champion Lee Selby will be unveiling the statue at the event.

The Argus-backed campaign to raise money for the statue of the boxing hero, often called Newport’s own Rocky, was launched in 2016 by the late boxer’s nephew.

Founding committee member of #NewportsRocky campaign, Luke Pearce, who works for the RAF, said they have nearly reached their target £60,000 target and have been able to pay for the statue, plinth, shipping and transportation costs, and construction.

He added: “We still have to raise around £900 to finalise the statue project, but this is an amazing effort from all concerned so far, considering we have never fundraised before and only been fundraising 17 months.”

The most recent contributors to the David ‘Bomber’ Pearce Statue Fund are St Joseph’s Hospital, who donated £500, BMW, who donated £250, and a £500 donation from Star Taxis of Maindee, Newport.

The Newport-born boxer, who died in 2000, achieved international fame after defeating the three-time world light heavyweight champion, Dennis Andries in 1981.

He was a former steelworker who was once ranked seventh in the world. The boxer who lifted the coveted Heavyweight Lonsdale Belt in 1983 having beaten Neville Meade to become the Welsh and British heavyweight champion, a title he never lost in the ring.

For more information about the statue campaign visit facebook.com/NewportsRocky.